diff --git a/man/waybar-sway-workspaces.5.scd b/man/waybar-sway-workspaces.5.scd
index 9c9c2142..56b703a2 100644
--- a/man/waybar-sway-workspaces.5.scd
+++ b/man/waybar-sway-workspaces.5.scd
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ Addressed by *sway/workspaces*
 	typeof: string ++
 	Command to execute when the module is updated.
 
+*numeric-first*: ++
+	typeof: bool ++
+	Whether to put workspaces starting with numbers before workspaces that do not start with a number.
+
 # FORMAT REPLACEMENTS
 
 *{value}*: Name of the workspace, as defined by sway.
@@ -107,6 +111,7 @@ n.b.: the list of outputs can be obtained from command line using *swaymsg -t ge
 "sway/workspaces": {
     "disable-scroll": true,
     "all-outputs": true,
+    "numeric-first": false,
     "format": "{name}: {icon}",
     "format-icons": {
         "1": "",
diff --git a/src/modules/sway/workspaces.cpp b/src/modules/sway/workspaces.cpp
index bd003cb2..60d9887a 100644
--- a/src/modules/sway/workspaces.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/sway/workspaces.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "modules/sway/workspaces.hpp"
+
 #include <spdlog/spdlog.h>
 
 namespace waybar::modules::sway {
@@ -90,16 +91,38 @@ void Workspaces::onCmd(const struct Ipc::ipc_response &res) {
               workspaces_.emplace_back(std::move(v));
             }
           }
-
-          std::sort(workspaces_.begin(),
-                    workspaces_.end(),
-                    [](const Json::Value &lhs, const Json::Value &rhs) {
-                      if (lhs["name"].isInt() && rhs["name"].isInt()) {
-                        return lhs["name"].asInt() < rhs["name"].asInt();
-                      }
-                      return lhs["name"].asString() < rhs["name"].asString();
-                    });
         }
+
+        // config option to sort numeric workspace names before others
+        bool config_numeric_first = config_["numeric-first"].asBool();
+
+        std::sort(workspaces_.begin(),
+                  workspaces_.end(),
+                  [config_numeric_first](const Json::Value &lhs, const Json::Value &rhs) {
+                    // the "num" property (integer type):
+                    // The workspace number or -1 for workspaces that do
+                    // not start with a number.
+                    auto l = lhs["num"].asInt();
+                    auto r = rhs["num"].asInt();
+                    if (l == r) {
+                      // in case both integers are the same, lexicographical
+                      // sort. This also covers the case when both don't have a
+                      // number (i.e., l == r == -1).
+                      return lhs["name"].asString() < rhs["name"].asString();
+                    }
+
+                    // one of the workspaces doesn't begin with a number, so
+                    // num is -1.
+                    if (l < 0 || r < 0) {
+                      if (config_numeric_first) {
+                        return r < 0;
+                      }
+                      return l < 0;
+                    }
+
+                    // both workspaces have a "num" so let's just compare those
+                    return l < r;
+                  });
       }
       dp.emit();
     } catch (const std::exception &e) {
@@ -217,7 +240,8 @@ std::string Workspaces::getIcon(const std::string &name, const Json::Value &node
       if (config_["format-icons"][key].isString() && node[key].asBool()) {
         return config_["format-icons"][key].asString();
       }
-    } else if (config_["format_icons"]["persistent"].isString() && node["target_output"].isString()) {
+    } else if (config_["format_icons"]["persistent"].isString() &&
+               node["target_output"].isString()) {
       return config_["format-icons"]["persistent"].asString();
     } else if (config_["format-icons"][key].isString()) {
       return config_["format-icons"][key].asString();